The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-09
A SWAMP MYSTERY.
BIT WILLIAM o. STODDARD.

BIT WILLIAM o. sToDDARD.
The summer OF tho year 1862 was par
ticula' ly not on tho coast of North Car
DINA. 1t even did something to coun
teract the more destructive heat of the
civil war.
General Burnside had captured long
reach of the scaboard, and had estab'
lished his head ,uarters at Newberne.
No battles followed very soon, nor any
storms to speak of. but the army and the
weather were fast getting into high
state of preparation for either kind OF
event
There were Union troops at Fort Macon
and Morchead { itY, not many miles up
the coast from Ncwbcrne, and much pay
was due them.
The money came down from the North
in July, and couple of pAymasters re-
csived orders to go ut once and deal 1t
out to the men.
Before the war a railway had been con-
Btructed from Ncwberne to Morehead
City. Its rails were still there, but all
Its iollin;, stock, with the exception Of
one hand-car had gone into the interior
the State. The viaduct was only just
wide enough to carry the rails, and much
of its course was through a swamp whose
dense bushes were now luxuriatly reach
ing out as if they meant to capture the
track before the emo of the season.
The Quartermaster placed his one
hand Lear at the disposal of the paymas-
ters. lie did so with the pleasant infor-
nation that at the previous evening the
busy lonlcdcratcs had made raid and
had swept away all the pickets posted
along the line of the railway. New pick
cts had been posted, he told them, and
their proposed trip would be reasonably
safe.
THAT is," nc said, 'I guess you're
safe from any Confeds: but If you don't
get through before dark Id advise you
to he pretty prompt about answering any
hail. The boys'll all be wide awake
this time. They won't be slow about
taking care of themselves in the dark.
Not man of em wants to 90 to Will
mington just now, nor to Andersonville
ether"
That warning made the Paymaster
shake his head aud grew in Importance
before the hand-car set out. for it was
plain enough that it would be dark be-
fore the trip could be half made. Pre-
cisely how dark it would be or why was
not as yet imagined by anybody.
There were nine men huddled on that
hand-car when it went. A sergeant and
four soldiers were its motive power,
guard and garrison. The writer of this
story was there altogether as an adven.
turer. Two pa masters, with the rank
of major, and one clerk were in charge
of black box coGta ming over $50, 600 IL
greeabacks, to be scat cred among the
volunteers on the morrow.
The air grew more and more close and
sultry, and Just before night sort OF
haze began to rise over the eastern hori
Zon.
That's it, Major" said the Sergeant
to enc of the paymasters. Were going
to hear from Cape Hatteras."
"Storm coming'"
'Right along. Twou't take it long
to come"
He was correct as to the time required
by Cape Hatteras, or whatever was man
aging that storm. The sky rapidly grew
black as ink and darkness came with
but moderate reference to the departing
sun.
Just before entering the denser thick,
cts of the swamp, picket was reached
and the officer in charge repeated the
warning of the Quartermaster:
sBe ready to answer right away. It'll
b. pitch dark and some of the boys arc
nervous, after last nights work. They'll
shoot quick"
That was to the Sergeant, but it was q
Paymaster who replied:
"Wcll, now, Captain, we didn't say
so. but we thought the trip would be
sufer by night than by day. The men
have got to have the money"
Hope the Confeds won't get it then.
Put her through, Sergeant, but look
sharp. The storms most got erc." He
also was correct about the weather. In
ten minutes more such q storm had ar
rived as was credit to Cape Hattcras
and the whole seacoast of North Caro-
lima. On rolled the handcar. its crouch
ing passengers drenched with rain that
fell in streams rather than drops. The
lightning flashed almost necessarily, and
the thunder seemed to be rolling around
ali over the swamp. Except where a
streak of lightning cleft it. the darkness
was like a solid wall, and there was
ne eth"r headlight nor hand lantern pro-
videi for that handCar.
Worst storm ever saw" remarked
the Sergeant. and one of the brace of
mea who were acting az motive power
grunt, back at III. ''lt'S the wors;
kind Of i storm. bu. you can't see it"
1t was a Just correction of the state
mcnt made by the Sergeant, but at that
moment hoarse, deep, all but sepulchra
voice from among the bushes and black
ness at the right of the track com
mandcd:
"Haltw
''Stop her. Quick, boys" exclaimed
the Sergeant, and as the men changed
instantly from motive power into brakes
he sprang from the car into water abov'
his knees and waded forward to answe
he hail and give the countersign.
II ,pos all in vain. Down came